“Sturm” time in Austria

“Sturm” time is very popular in Austria during the fall. Sturm is also know as “Suser, Sauser, Neuer Süßer, or Junger Wein (young wine) in Southwest Germany, Switzerland and South Tyrol.” Others may know it as Federweißer.

Sturm is a popular alcoholic beverage and marks the beginning of autumn and the harvest season for many locals.

The drink usually has a low alcohol content of 4%, but some areas make the drink much stronger where it can be up to 10% of alcohol by volume. It all depends on what region it’s from. Sturm is made of grapes that are fermented into alcohol. Fermentation is a process that can take up to a month until the liquid refreshment is perfected. After it reaches the alcohol content you want, it can then be sold.

Picture: BilderBox

Picture: handwerk-magazin

This time is very popular for individuals because the wine must be consumed quickly, since it is only on sale for a few weeks in the fall. The drink cannot be preserved, and if you buy a bottle of it, it comes without a cork because it is still fermenting. Usually people attend festivals or restaurants where the drink can be bought and celebrated.

Sturm comes in white or red, and because of the high sugar content and carbonation, some may not be able to taste the alcohol in the beverage. This time can be compared to Oktoberfest in Germany, because Sturm time is just as popular in Austria.

Here is also a blog, where a writer writes about her experience with Sturm.